Bygones: Notts referee banned after epic Cup Final

TOP local referee Arthur Adams made history when he became the first man from Nottinghamshire to take charge of an FA Cup final.

He certainly couldn't have chosen a bigger occasion, as a massive crowd of 121,919 piled into the Crystal Palace on April 19 to see Aston Villa pip Sunderland 1-0.

Adams, who played locally for High Pavement School, St Mary's Institute and Notts Rangers, was described as a "useful exponent of the game".

He played alongside Geo Toone at Rangers, along with the Sheltons (Harry, Charlie and Alfred) and Tich Smith.

When he quit playing, Harry Ward – secretary of the Notts FA – persuaded him to take up the whistle.

Initially, he refereed in Sutton, Mansfield and Mansfield Woodhouse but was promoted to the Midland League in 1906. A year later he took charge of his first League game, Aston Villa v Everton in front of 35,000 fans. At the end of the season he was promoted to the full list.

Adams, who was honorary secretary of the Notts Thursday League, ran the line in the 1910-11 FA Cup final.

Adams had his work cut out from the start in the 1913 final, as Sunderland's man mountain Charlie Thomson and Villa's Harry Hampton resumed a long-running feud that led to both players being suspended for a month at the start of the following season.

Sadly, the big day turned sour for Adams, who also found himself suspended, apparently for allowing a total of 17 minutes stoppage time.

And there was so much rough play that Sunderland had their invitation to take part in the 1913 Charity Shield match withdrawn.

Villa eventually won 1-0 thanks to a goal by Tommy Barber, who got on the end of a cross from Charlie Wallace.

Wallace had earlier missed a penalty, something that would not happen again in the FA Cup until the 1988 final between Wimbledon and Liverpool, when keeper Dave Beasant was the hero.

Curiously, Clem Stephenson, Villa's inside-left, had dreamed the night before that Villa would win the Cup and that Tommy Barber would head the all-important goal. He even told Charlie Buchan as much during the match.

It was Sunderland's first appearance in the FA Cup Final and they looked nervous early on.

Hampton and Thomson began their duel early on. Thomson deliberately made a back for Hampton who fell heavily and Adams finally cautioned the Sunderland man after half a dozen warnings.

Hampton sent some beautiful passes out to the wings for Wallace and the Sunderland defence was often at full stretch.

Villa were awarded a penalty when Gladwin brought Stephenson down in the penalty area, but the unfortunate Wallace put his kick yards wide of the left-hand post.

Hampton then had a goal rightly disallowed for offside, but Villa had clearly had the better of a fiery first half.

Sunderland improved considerably after the break. Hardy was caught on the left knee in a challenge and Harrop took his place in goal.

Hardy returned after about ten minutes with a heavily bandaged leg.

That gave Villa fresh heart and they attacked immediately with Wallace forcing a corner off Ness.

He picked out Barber who placed a header out of Butler's reach and into the net.

Near the end, Hampton made a great attempt to hustle Butler over the line.

Sunderland's last chance disappeared when Martin hit an upright with the goal at his mercy.

Both sets of full-backs had good games while Lyons was the best defender on the field.

For the record, the teams were:

Aston Villa: Hardy, Lyons, Weston, Barber, Harrop, Leach, Wallace, Stephenson, Hampton, Halse, Bache

Sunderland: Butler, Gladwin, Ness, Cuggy, Thomson, Low, Mordue, Buchan, Richardson, Holley, Martin.